Into The Light !

This post will be in the format of "snippets" ... some sassy, some classy; hopefully with equal representation from both of my cerebral hemispheres :)

ENTHRALLING BOOK --

Read this enlightening, lively, unique book -- written in such a spiritual yet earthy style ... connecting nature, people, animals, and spirit in a beautifully-woven bond. The title is "Strays"; the author is Jeanne Webster, who lives and works in North Carolina. Jeanne's website is at www.straysthebook.com. I believe we all are strays until and unless we find our own natural path.

INTO THE LIGHT --

If there is nothing much to like about January except for the birthdays of dear ones (my mom's birthday was January 8th and I remember each year even though she's gone), there is one other biggie to like about this month: the visible return of daylight. We are inching forward a little each day with a minute or so of additional daylight. That excites me! My daffodils are already up about three inches. It amazes me to think of the knowledge that is stored in the bulb of a daffodil, enabling it to know when to push its way upward through the cold, soggy earth ... toward daylight.

I know that there is usefulness and need for darkness. And there is also a certain kind of comfort in it, too. The inky, early nightfall seems like a soft, caressing black blanket, drawing us in. We do need a period in the year when we submit to the darkness, rather than flailing against it in defiance. I found that the giving-in helps me avoid autumn seasonal depression. The cycles of Nature know what they are doing and they are very experienced.

DIXIE-LEE --

For my readers who have followed my reports on my beloved dog, she is (this day and in this moment) doing well. We take it one day at a time. After six surgeries to clear up the fistula network she's been suffering with, it is either in remission or (may I even hope?) retreating. She is on oral steroids and antibiotics. My vet and I did try her on a chemo drug (as this condition acts in a similar way to cancer in fooling the immune system). But the drug made her so sick and uncomfortable that I stopped giving it. I wouldn't want anyone to give me medicine that made me feel even worse than the medical condition. The next day, she showed remarkable improvement and even picks up her toys now from time to time.

POLITICS --

Embarrassing. Wouldn't it be nice to have a candidate who actually cared about the citizens and couldn't be influenced by industry (and who would have a snowball's chance of getting on the ballot box)? Wouldn't it be nice if Congress would approve legislation that would benefit the country and the people rather than special interests and corporate giants? Wouldn't it be nice if money and political clout didn't decide who the candidates would be?

VIDEO --

My creative chiropractor/friend did a great video of Dixie Lee and me back in November; he included many shots of interesting wall-hangings and mementos that are in my music studio and put the whole thing together beautifully. Dixie looks great. I was wearing my patchy, baggy jeans (so comfortable). But I did a decent job on the two songs I played and sang. I wanted to put the video up here on the blog but found that videos can't be uploaded like photos; that surprised me. If you want a copy, please let me know and I'll send one out to you.

THE ART DECO TRIO --

Yes, I'm with a band now, a trio. We do a heady, eclectic mix of jazz, blues, be-bop, latinesque, funk, and ballads, originals and covers. When we first got together, we agreed that we would stay with the effort as long as it is FUN! And it is! So the trio is a democracy ... no bosses and no dictators ... but plenty of awesome music! Clay is a phenomenally talented guitarist and vocalist; Scott is a very creative drummer/percussionist; and yours truly does keyboard, vocals, and bass on the keyboard. We hope, soon, to have some stuff up on a page that Scott is setting up on a website called Reverbnation.

NEW SONG --

In B major. Lots of musicians avoid this key because it is difficult to play in. But it has a delicate, "thin", ethereal quality to it. And so I wrote this earthy blues in this ethereal key. I don't know if the combination would affect others this way, but when I do the song, it feels like it's consuming me -- in a seductive, sensuous, yet enthralling way. I hope I'll be recording it soon and am still polishing up my ability to do justice to the arrangement. It's called "Baby, Don't Be Blue".

LESS LITTER --

Please! Knoxville (and maybe your town?) desperately needs to have an anti-litter law with some bite in it. Litter is disgusting, disrespectful, and inexcusable. It's hard for me to understand why anyone would throw trash on the street or in people's yards or on our precious Earth that sustains us all.

WORKOUT ANYTIME --

This is a great gym! The staff is helpful and friendly. The equipment is the best and includes everything that anyone could want. And the place is clean, clean, clean, wonderfully clean. Perhaps best of all, you can be a member for $15 a month without being locked into a contract. I love the one on Broadway in Knoxville.

PIANO STUDENTS --

I am currently accepting a few new students. I teach adults and teens, using my three-fold approach of note-reading, chord-reading and understanding, and ear-training. Lesson rate is affordable and the studio environment is relaxed and enjoyable. I'm located near North Broadway in Knoxville; e-mail me at claralandau@yahoo.com.

THANK YOU --

Thank you, dear readers, for your continued support. Many of you send me e-mails in response to my blog posts; I love to receive those. I also love it when you send your comments to the blog so that other people can read them. It's easy. Just use the anonymous feature :) Oh, happy; I just counted -- I have eleven topic titles -- eleven is a really fortunate mystical number!